PhD opportunities in musculoskeletal disease for MBChB students. The TRAM MB-PhD scheme offers a new and exciting opportunity for bright, motivated and enthusiastic medical students to access high quality research training during their medical degree. The scheme is funded by the Kennedy Trust which has provided funding for a 5-year programme of joint MB-PhD studentships in Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as other UK centres of excellence in musculoskeletal disease.The scheme offers students the opportunity to undertake a PhD in an area relevant to musculoskeletal disease after completion of their intercalated BSc. The scheme will also encourage graduates to follow an academic career within the area of musculoskeletal disease. The vision of TRAM is to train a future generation of academic leaders in the field of musculoskeletal disease. Successful applicants will be trained in cutting edge practical scientific and analytic skills with a focus on scientific excellence, while gaining understanding of the rigour, discipline and precision required for translational research. It is expected that the research projects will generate material that will form the basis of publications in high profile medical and scientific journals.Course SummaryThe TRAM MB-PhD scheme enables 4th-year MBChB students to enter a 3-year PhD training during their medical degree. Students can enter the programme at the end of year 4, following completion of their BMedSci degree or at the end of year 4 following their first clinical year. Following completion of the PhD, students will return to the MBChB course at the point they left. The students will be mentored by their supervisors and other staff of the MB-PhD scheme, right from the PhD selection process, through the PhD project, to MBChB course completion and beyond into the postgraduate phase, to maximise the chance of sustaining a successful academic career. The PhD programmes will be undertaken within research centres and institutes associated with College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh or the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences in Glasgow. The scheme will offer students the possibility of undertaking collaborative projects involving supervisors from both Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as offering students the opportunity to participate in scientific meetings and other activities organised by students, academic staff and supervisors based in from both cities. Additionally, students will have the opportunity of networking with students from other Kennedy Trust funded UK centres in Birmingham, Manchester, and Oxford.EligibilityThe TRAM MB-PhD programme is available to students who are currently undertaking an intercalated medical degree (MBChB) at the University of Edinburgh or the University of Glasgow. External candidates can be considered only in exceptional circumstances.Further informationInformal enquires and expressions of interest for the programme should be directed to the TRAM team at this email address tram@ed.ac.uk or directly to Professor Stuart Ralston stuart.ralston@ed.ac.uk. Application formsTo make an application please complete this form and submit by emailing the completed form to tram@ed.ac.uk. Please note that informal expressions of interest are also welcome (see below). Document TRAM Application Form 2025 (111.5 KB / DOCX) Projects availableA variety of PhD projects are available for prospective students to choose from. Please click this link to view details of the projects that are on offer. TRAM PhD Projects A list of available PhD projects offered as part of the TRAM MB-PhD Programme are displayed below TimelinesThe third year of entry to the scheme will be in 2025. Timelines are shown below:To express an interest in the programme, for informal advice or to organise a meeting with Professor Ralston to discuss things, please email tram@ed.ac.uk or stuart.ralston@ed.ac.uk.Deadline for applications: Monday 31st March 2025, 17:00Interviews: Monday 14th April between 09.00-14.00 (these will be performed remotely using Teams or ZOOM).Successful applicants notified: Friday 18th AprilStart of (optional) summer mini-projects: Monday 23rd June Start of the PhD project: August 1st 2025 This article was published on 2024-09-23